International Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca settled for runner-up honors in the blitz event of the 23rd Bangkok Chess Club Open held at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa Hua Hin in Thailand on Wednesday.
Arca, who hails from Zamboanga City, collected 11 points in the tournament after a 10-win, 2-draw and 3-loss output in the 15-round tournament with a time control format of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment.
Arca’s victories came against Fide Master Reynard Kristopher of Vietnam in round 3, National Master Rolly Parondo of the Philippines in round 4, Tung Quan Nguyen of Vietnam in round 6, International Master James Morris of Australia in round 7, Grandmaster Timur Gareyev of the USA in round 10, IM Dhingra Aaditya of India in round 11, IM Arif Abdul Hafiz of Indonesia in round 12, IM Nayaka Budhidharma of Indonesia in round 13, Woman GM Enkhtuul Altan-Ulzii of Mongolia in round 14 and FM Daniel Causo of the Philippines in round 15.
He split the point with IM Khuong Duy Dau of Vietnam and IM Garg Aradhya of India and bowed to GM NR Visakh of India , FM Glen Fabien Mariano and FM Singh Arshpreet of India.
"I would like to dedicate my victory to my family, relatives, friends, sponsors, my countrymen and to God," the 17-year-old Arca said.
Arca's chess campaign here and abroad is being supported by former senator Manny Pacquiao and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman and president Prospero Pichay Jr.
